Bookworm Heroeshttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/15329/all
enBookworm Heroes Free-to-Play Model Tweaked, Update Out Tomorrowhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/bookworm_heroes_freetoplay_model_tweaked_update_out_tomorrow
<!--paging_filter--><p>PopCap's Bookworm Heroes <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/bookworm_heroes_review" target="_blank">launched on the App Store last week</a>, and following the game's success on Facebook and the previous entries' widespread popularity, fans of word games were particularly excited to pop in and start flinging word attacks on iOS devices. However, as we discovered in our review of <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/bookworm_heroes_review">Bookworm Heroes</a> — which posted yesterday – the game's free-to-play model proved a bit severe, and made it difficult to simply play the game without feeling obligated to spend money.</p><p>Acknowledging the feedback and criticisms, along with the first week's worth of player data, PopCap reached out to let us know that going forward, players will no longer need to spend in-game currency to "rent" a hero character. One will be available free each week in a rotating fashion, with Lex currently useable without charge. Razor will be the next free character of the week beginning tomorrow, and PopCap says it'll use push notifications, Facebook updates, and refreshed banners to alert players about the ever-changing cost-free character.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u330237/2013/04/0424_bookwormheroes_620.png" width="620" height="411" /><strong>Good news: this is getting a bit more reasonable.</strong></p><p>Moreover, the studio will address other concerns about the game's free-to-play model in a larger update set to go live tomorrow morning. The update will improve Bookworm Heroes' ability to automatically clear stagnant games – a significant issue noted in our appraisal – and also allow for more simultaneous ongoing games. We'll have to wait until tomorrow to see the full scope of the update, but with luck, the alterations will make for a friendlier turn-based word game, as we quite liked the core experience buried behind the issues.</p><p>We plan to take a fresh look at the game once the update is live, since the changes are coming so quickly after our review posted, and will have new impressions on the site in the near future.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/bookworm_heroes_freetoplay_model_tweaked_update_out_tomorrow#commentsNewsBookworm HeroesFree-to-playPopCapiPadiPhoneiPodThu, 25 Apr 2013 00:50:41 +0000Andrew Hayward16826 at http://www.maclife.comBookworm Heroes Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/bookworm_heroes_review
<!--paging_filter--><p><em>[<strong>Editor's Note:</strong> This updated review reflects balancing changes and other tweaks made to the game shortly after our original review, wherein the initial release earned a 2.5 (Okay) score. Due to the updates arriving so quickly after our review posted, we decided to revisit the game and adjust the appraisal accordingly.]</em></p><p>In a marketplace chock full of free-to-play word games, Bookworm Heroes plays like a clear attempt to take back the mantle. PopCap didn’t invent casual word puzzles, but its Bookworm franchise certainly had a hand in its popularity. This asynchronous multiplayer entry boasts spritely animations and well-balanced word fighting mechanics, and serves as a nicely modernized successor to the franchise's name.<br /><br />This is a word game by way of the fighting genre, right down to opposing health bars that drain with successive attacks. Spelling longer words results in stronger attacks, and using specialized letter blocks offers potential effects like refilling health, packing more punch, or even chancing a second attack in one turn. As a fighting game, it features a distinct cast. Lex the Bookworm is joined by a cadre of human (and humanoid) characters: Hamlet the scribe, Razor the hacker, and Polyphemus the stone golem. Each packs his or her own specialized maneuvers, like Lex’s capability to eat words to refill his health, or Hamlet’s ability to ink opponents’ letters. While it’s odd at first to see such cute mascots hitting and biting each other, it fades into the background as part of the game’s charm.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2013/04/screen1_0.png" width="620" height="349" /></p><p>One alternating hero per week can be used for free, while the others cost between 750 and 1,500 coins per use. You can also select optional pets to take into a fight for extra bonus effects and attacks. With the exception of one pet that allows unlimited use once bought for $1.99, each of the pets costs 750 coins per use, as well. The game starts you with a cache of coins to bankroll your first round of games, and you'll earn more as you play words during the games and find your favorite hero.</p><p>While the initial release briefly struggled with coin balance, making it difficult to carry on games without spending cash, PopCap quickly updated the game to solve those issues. If you spend coins on a hero or pet and a match subsequently lapses, you'll be refunded. You can rely on the free hero of the week, but you'll still likely run low on coins by constantly renting the pets, since an average match won't earn back your 750 coins. For that reason, it's best to go into battle without pets (or with your unlimited, coin-boosting pet, if purchased) while gathering currency for tougher opponents. <br /><br />Bookworm Heroes isn't doing anything particularly new in the word game arena; it's essentially a standard word game, consisting of life bars that serve as score counters with a hard cap. But its friendly interface and balanced cast make it a stellar example of the genre. Like a well-made fighting game, a last-minute attack can reverse the momentum of a match, making for a nail-biting experience until one of the wordsmith warriors taps out.<br /><br /><strong>The bottom line. </strong>Bookworm Heroes is a polished word/fighting game hybrid, with finely-tuned powers that keep matches active to the very end.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bookworm-heroes/id567254043?mt=8" target="_blank">Bookworm Heroes 1.0.2</a></p> </div>
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<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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PopCap </div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.popcap.com" target="_blank">http://www.popcap.com</a></p> </div>
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<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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Free </div>
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<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 4.3 or later</p> </div>
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<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p>Entertaining word game that can deliver tense moments. Well-animated cast of characters. Differentiated and well-balanced powers.</p> </div>
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<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p>Playing without a rented pet is a disadvantage.</p> </div>
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http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/bookworm_heroes_review#commentsReviewsapp store reviewsAppLifeBookworm HeroesfreemiumGamesgamesiPad AppsiPhone and iPodiPod and iPhonePopCapreviewsSoftwaresoftwareword gamesiPadGalleryTue, 23 Apr 2013 19:39:31 +0000Steve Watts16800 at http://www.maclife.com